Comment Part 90 vs Part 97 (Score 1) 376
Amateur Radio is a Communications "Hobby". An Avocation. Not a service you can subscribe to.
You have to learn how things work, set up your rig(s), antennas and accessories, learn their strengths and weaknesses, learn what modes and bands do what and why, develop your own skills and equipment, practice then - learn more, explore and understand what and how to accomplish your goals and then, "When all else fails", you can be a real asset to user agencies and even yourself. An trained, experienced RF communicator.
But, to just go get a license and expect to be able to meet emergency needs - and worse, set yourself up as such - that's a huge stretch. Yes, there are anecdotes where a few 'n00bs' have helped - but those are the exceptions and even then, they'd have been able to offer more if their foundation was deeper and broader.
That's possibly an insight into why some (of us) hams are so "anti-emergency" appearing in their perspective. If you want an "emergency" radio - go buy one. If you want to equip your emergency service with a 'back up' system. Don't use Amateur Radio - get a backup system.
It's because hams have learned the radio art, when an emergency presents, they can meet the needs "when all else fails". But you can't be proficient in the art just because you have a license. That's just the beginning. But what a journey it is!!
You have to learn how things work, set up your rig(s), antennas and accessories, learn their strengths and weaknesses, learn what modes and bands do what and why, develop your own skills and equipment, practice then - learn more, explore and understand what and how to accomplish your goals and then, "When all else fails", you can be a real asset to user agencies and even yourself. An trained, experienced RF communicator.
But, to just go get a license and expect to be able to meet emergency needs - and worse, set yourself up as such - that's a huge stretch. Yes, there are anecdotes where a few 'n00bs' have helped - but those are the exceptions and even then, they'd have been able to offer more if their foundation was deeper and broader.
That's possibly an insight into why some (of us) hams are so "anti-emergency" appearing in their perspective. If you want an "emergency" radio - go buy one. If you want to equip your emergency service with a 'back up' system. Don't use Amateur Radio - get a backup system.
It's because hams have learned the radio art, when an emergency presents, they can meet the needs "when all else fails". But you can't be proficient in the art just because you have a license. That's just the beginning. But what a journey it is!!